NL WILDCARD GAME: PHILLIES VS BRAVES

September 29, 2026

Walt Weiss

Truist Park

Atlanta Braves

Postgame Press Conference

Braves 5, Phillies 3

WALT WEISS: I'll start out. That's usually how it goes when these two teams play each other. That's usually what it looks like. Great game. Really well-pitched game. I thought Sale was outstanding.

You know, there in the seventh I guess it was, it felt like the tank was empty there. We had our best reliever ready to go, and I went and got Chris. Ended up giving up the two runs, but I'd take Didi in that spot every time. But Sale was outstanding.

Had some big hits today. Ozzie, obviously Austin Riley. So happy for Austin Riley. Had a rough year, but when the playoffs start, everything starts at zero. Nothing that happened in the regular season really matters. It's a clean slate. Austin Riley has been a great player in postseason play.

Q. Did you anticipate Riley having one of those moments? You've lived with him for the past six months. You know how the postseason works. Did you have a feeling he might be able to do this?

WALT WEISS: Yeah, look, there's many examples, right, of things like this happening. Guys maybe struggled during the year or even you see a lot of unsung heroes in the postseason. Like I said, everyone starts at zero. It couldn't happen to a better guy. Best teammate you can find, everything. Really happy for him.

Look, I think throughout the season, I always felt like virtually every time he got in the box, this is when it's going to turn around. At times, it did. But he's worked, obviously, all year for this moment, and good for him.

Q. Just describe the emotions in the dugout when Riley hits out, just the it might be, it could be, it clears.

WALT WEISS: Just there's no better feeling. I talked to the guys before the game just do embrace this because it doesn't get more fun than this, playing this game in the postseason.

So yeah, but the emotions were -- yeah, you can imagine. You go from losing the lead to something like that, the swing in emotions are enormous. Yeah, what a big home run.

Q. Yesterday I asked Matt Olson about the success this teams that had in the late innings and he said it's interwoven into the DNA of the ballclub. Would you agree with that statement?

WALT WEISS: Yeah, I agree. Look, I've said this before. I feel like when the stakes are highest and the challenges are the toughest, that's when we've been at our best. It's been that way literally all year long. Whether it's looking like we were going to give away the division and then going on a run again, having a rough road trip, coming back home and having to play the Dodgers and we sweep them. Even going into Philly with the division on the line. We played well in those two series late in the season.

Yeah, our guys just rise to the occasion, man. It's a good group. I've been talking about the group all year. It's a great room. This is what you get when you have that kind of heart and that kind of culture.

Q. Walt, you talked about it with Austin, but what can you say about his mental fortitude? This was all year, obviously the contract and the underperforming, but for him, you've always stayed optimistic in him. What does that say that all you guys have trusted --

WALT WEISS: Look, I've seen him really good for a long time, and I see the work behind the scenes. I know the person. You bet on the person. Obviously a very talented guy.

But you couldn't tell this year if he was the leading MVP candidate in the National League or if he was struggling. I mean that. He's the same guy every day. Stuff like this doesn't happen if you're not -- if you ride that roller coaster of emotions as a player, this probably doesn't end up happening.

But he kept his head about him, kept doing the work, and has a great moment.

Q. What stood out the most to you about Chris' performance today and what were those indicators that told you at that point that, as you said, the tank was empty?

WALT WEISS: Well, he was great. That's what he looks like every time out virtually. I saw the stuff starting to tick down a little bit. The near home run from Harper, the knock from Stott, the slider wasn't quite the same, the velocity was down, and we have our best reliever ready to go at the bottom of their lineup. I'll take Didi -- Didi puts that inning down 99 out of 100 times.

Look, believe me, I give Chris Sale the longest leash for good reason. I've let him go this year, and usually to the point where he's got to give up the runs before I take him out. But I just saw with my eyes, I thought that the stuff was ticking down and the tank was empty.

Q. When they brought in Duran there in the seventh inning, obviously we were all, what's going on? What was your thoughts and how did you kind of foresee the rest of the game playing out there?

WALT WEISS: Yeah, look, postseason is always different. All bets are off from what you saw during the regular season. Yeah, I felt like when Duran had the efficient first inning that he was in there, I figured he'd go back out. Look, he's their best reliever. Why wouldn't you?

On the flip side, I felt that way with our guy. We had our best reliever coming in in a spot. But the game is unpredictable, man. You take your best shot, and then whatever happens happens.

To score those runs off that guy, he's as good as it gets, Duran. Makes Riley's home run even more impressive.

Q. You talked about big hits for this club. Ozzie had one to get this team back in the game. You've seen him throughout his entire career. How big was that, and what does he mean to this team and just everything about what you guys are trying to do?

WALT WEISS: Yeah, look, Ozzie is one of the guys that's the heart and soul of this team. There's several of those, right. But he's certainly one of those.

Look, you never know with Ozzie. He's a free swinger, and sometimes he can chase some pitches out of the zone and he'll make a quick out. But he's also very dangerous. Another guy that just comes up big in big moments, another guy with a slow heartbeat. He's been good here for a long time. He's probably going to hold all the records for second basemen for the Braves in his career, I'm sure, by the time it's said and done.

A special kid, and he has a flair for the big moment.

Q. When you go out to get Chris, did he have much of a reaction or anything to say there?

WALT WEISS: No, no. He knows that I typically let him go as long as I think he can go. It's a different environment, right. There's a lot of adrenaline. At some point there's an adrenaline crash. Had a tough first inning that he had to grind through.

These postseason innings are different than regular season innings. My plan was to probably let him go to 110 pitches this game if he was dealing and he was rolling. But yeah, just felt like it was time. He had done his job, and it was time.

Like I said, especially with Didi who's been unbelievable for us this year. Yeah, just felt like it was time.

Q. With Tyler Mahle going tomorrow, what's the confidence level that you can close this series out?

WALT WEISS: I mean, yeah, Tyler has been great. He's been a huge pickup. He's changed our rotation, changed our team, been a tremendous addition. Feel good about him taking the hill tomorrow.

Q. As good as Didi has been for you guys during the regular season, the postseason could be a lot different for a pitcher like him. What gives you the confidence that he can bounce back from this?

WALT WEISS: Well, the kid is unflappable. He's been in big moments all year. We put him in big moments, and he's earned them. Talk about a slow heartbeat; he's a pretty special kid at his age to be doing what he's doing.

But he's not going to shy away from any big moment, regardless of how big it is.